Artic buses in S. Africa
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• Two articulated bus outfits are being operated experimentally by the United Transport Overseas Ltd Group in South Africa.
The prime mover is the 36ft, 210 hp Mercedes 1617 vehicle and the trailer has a Vetter body. Designed to carry African workers to and from their jobs, the buses have a 156-passenger capacity (91 seated and 65 standing). The majority of passengers travel on weekly and monthly tickets and the buses are one-man operated.
The prime mover is fitted with rear air-suspension to restrict the movement of the chassis and the trailer turntable coupling and there is a bellows-type connection between the two vehicles.
Compensated steering linkage from the trailer coupling enables the trailer axle to track the prime mover front axle. An electrically and pneumatically controlled reversing stop is built in to prevent over-steering when in reverse gear.
The two vehicles are coupled at a ball headed joint which is so designed that it will• permit vertical and horizontal movement.
The companies operating the buses are African Bus Service (Pretoria) (Pty) Ltd and the Vaal Transport Corporation (Pty) Ltd, Vereeniging, near Johannesburg.